The History of Native Americans is captivating and tragic. The name “Indian” was given them by Christopher Columbus who mistakenly believed he had landed in the Indies. They have been labeled Indians, American Indians, and the now preferred Native Americans. They migrated to all regions of the land and formed many different tribes or nations. The peoples adapted well to their regions and made wise use of all natural resources available. They respected the land and the abundance of gifts it offered. They became proficient fishermen, hunters and farmers, and built homes with available resources their territory provided. The Native Americans of the east coast met the new visitors from Europe with enthusiasm. They regarded these men as strange but were delighted with the steel knives, mirrors, copper kettles, and other novelties. The indigenous tribes were more than accommodating and hospitable. Without their aid, the first waves of settlers would not have survived in the land they knew little about. Initially, the people of this land tried to co-exist with the Europeans. But many more problems arose. With all their intriguing gadgets, the white men brought deadly diseases to the Native Americans. The colonists and explorers brought measles, smallpox, cholera, yellow fever, and many more devastating diseases. This drastically diminished the Native American population and annihilated entire villages. In addition, the arrogant attitude of the ever-growing whites led to the Indian Wars, the Indian Removal Act (1830), and in 1890 one of the worst massacres ever -- Wounded Knee, South Dakota. Here warriors, women, and children alike were ferociously slaughtered by the U.S. Cavalry. The U.S, government began Relocation Programs and the now famous Trail of Tears march where hundreds of Cherokee died from starvation, exposure, and illnesses. The Native American peoples were not only reduced in number but taken from their homes, stripped of their customs, and even forbidden to speak their native languages. Their children were taken from them and sent to schools to “civilize” them, forced to abandon every aspect of their heritage. In January 1876, the U.S. government forced them to live on ‘reservations’ where the majority of Native Americans still reside today. (Information from Native American History on allabouthistory.org) This was a sorrowful time in our American History. I believe wholeheartedly that we should have a National Holiday to remember/celebrate the first Peoples of our Nation the Native Americans.

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